Tooth-coloured fillings in Warners Bay

What a modern filling looks like

A composite filling is a tooth-coloured resin that's bonded directly to the tooth. Unlike older silver (amalgam) fillings, which relied on mechanical retention and required undercuts to be cut into healthy tooth, composites bond chemically to enamel and dentine. That means we can be much more conservative about what we remove.

The result is a filling that looks like the tooth around it, restores chewing function on the day, and preserves more of the tooth's natural structure for the long term.

When a filling is the right tool

Fillings are appropriate when:

• The cavity is small to moderate
• Enough healthy tooth structure remains to support a bonded restoration
• The tooth's nerve is healthy
• The bite forces on the tooth aren't excessive

When the cavity is very large, when one or more cusps are missing, or when the tooth is heavily worn, an onlay or crown is usually a more durable choice. We'll always tell you when we think a filling is going to be a short-term fix.

How a composite filling is placed

After numbing the tooth (we use gentle topical anaesthetic before any injection), we remove only the decayed or unsupported tooth structure. The cavity is etched and bonded with a primer, then composite resin is added in thin layers — each one shaped, light-cured and shade-matched. The final filling is contoured to the tooth's natural anatomy, the bite is checked, and the surface is polished to a smooth finish.

The whole process for a single filling typically takes 30–45 minutes. You can usually eat and drink as soon as the anaesthetic wears off.

What about old amalgam fillings?

We don't place amalgam (silver) fillings any more. The reasons are mainly clinical — bonded composites preserve more tooth structure, look better, and let us treat a cavity without cutting healthy enamel — rather than safety. Sound, well-sealed amalgam fillings already in your mouth are generally fine to leave alone unless there's a clinical reason to replace them.

We'll give you our honest opinion on each one at your check-up — replace, monitor, or leave it alone — and never recommend wholesale replacement just because they look dark.

After your appointment

It's normal to experience:

• Mild cold sensitivity for a few days, especially after deeper fillings
• Slight tenderness when chewing on that tooth for a few days
• A different feel as your tongue gets used to the new shape

If a filling feels noticeably high when you bite, give us a quick call — a small adjustment is usually all it takes to settle it down.

Stopping the next cavity

A filling treats the cavity that's there but doesn't address what caused it. Sugar exposure, dry mouth, snacking patterns, fluoride use, and the time between brushing and bed are usually more important than people realise. We'll review these at every check-up so we can prevent the next filling, not just place it.